Rep. Garner Shimizu

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill), requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group. The working group - comprising state agency representatives, county officials, industry stakeholders, and community experts - will evaluate regulatory and policy challenges for geothermal energy development in Hawaii and provide recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. It does not create new laws but aims to identify pathways for accelerating geothermal energy, a stable renewable resource, to support Hawaii's clean energy goals.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 159 urges the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, County of Hawaii, and County of Kauai to create and maintain an electronic public list of hurricane refuges and shelters. The resolution specifies that the list must include location details, hurricane category capacity (minimum category one), shelter capacity, pet-friendliness, and accessibility accommodations for people with functional needs. It also encourages counties to collaborate with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop a statewide list, though the resolution does not mandate implementation. The bill is non-binding and focuses on improving public access to critical emergency information during storms.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 100) urges the Hawaii Department of Education to strengthen farm-to-school programs. It directly affects Hawaii schools, local farmers (especially small/medium producers), and Native Hawaiian crop growers by requesting four specific actions: streamlining procurement rules for farmers, creating a statewide farm database, offering financial incentives for local food purchases, and ensuring culturally significant foods like kalo are included in meals. The resolution does not create new law but asks the Department to report progress by 2026 on implementing these measures to help meet a 2030 goal of sourcing 30% of school meal ingredients locally. It addresses barriers like complex contracts and logistics that hinder current efforts to reduce Hawaii’s reliance on imported food.

Maddy summaryHCR 209 is a non-binding resolution urging the State of Hawaii to consider import substitution as a strategy for economic growth. It requests state agencies (including the Departments of Business, Agriculture, and Hawaii Technology Development) to identify sectors where local production could replace imported goods, aiming to reduce economic vulnerabilities from supply-chain disruptions. The resolution cites historical examples from Hawaii and Asian economies (like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) that used import substitution to build domestic industries before transitioning to exports. It does not create new laws or funding but encourages state agencies to explore this approach for long-term economic resilience.

Maddy summaryHCR 86 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an "Aloha Civics Working Group" to enhance civics education in public schools. The group, requiring specific members including the Superintendent of Education, university representatives, legislative staff, community organizations, and public members, must assess current civics programs, identify ways to integrate the Aloha Spirit's principles (kindness, unity, humility), develop teaching strategies, recommend educator training, and propose evaluation metrics. The group must submit its final report to the Legislature and Department of Education by January 2026, ahead of the next legislative session. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's public school curriculum and educator training by seeking to incorporate cultural values into civic learning.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 80 requests the Hawaii Department of Education to establish an Aloha Civics Working Group focused on enhancing civics education in public schools. The working group will assess current civics programs, develop recommendations for integrating the "Aloha Spirit" (Hawaii's cultural principles of kindness, unity, and empathy) into the curriculum, and propose teacher training and evaluation metrics. The group must submit a report to the Legislature and Department of Education by 2026. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's public school system and educators through its recommendations for curriculum changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 108) is a non-binding urging to the Honolulu City Council to adopt a "pedestrian first" policy via ordinance. It cites that high-risk pedestrian areas (just 2% of streets) account for 60% of fatalities and 42% of injuries in Honolulu, and references the City's 2022 Oahu Pedestrian Plan. The resolution does not create new law but encourages the City Council to prioritize pedestrians in street design decisions, emphasizing safe connections to transit, schools, and commercial areas.

Maddy summaryHCR 211 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii state agencies and local governments to adopt import substitution strategies to reduce reliance on imported goods. It directs relevant agencies to identify priority sectors for local production (like manufacturing, agriculture, and energy), develop supporting policies and incentives, and collaborate with private and community stakeholders. County mayors and the Governor must submit a report with recommendations and proposed legislation to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution directly affects state agencies, county governments, and the Governor’s office through its reporting requirement, but it does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Hawaii's Governor to establish a task force focused on improving public-military relations in the state. It directly affects Hawaii residents and the military community, particularly those living near military installations on Oahu. The task force would include the Governor, legislative leaders, Honolulu's mayor, and the military commander, and must consider ways the public can benefit from military resources like water, recreational facilities, housing, and job opportunities. The resolution requires the task force to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by late 2025. It is non-binding and aims to address community concerns following incidents like the Red Hill fuel leaks.

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (not a binding bill), urging Hawaii to explore import substitution as an economic strategy. It directs state agencies and county leaders to identify sectors where local production could replace imports (like food or energy), develop supporting policies, and collaborate with businesses and communities. Officials must submit a 2026 report with recommendations, including potential new legislation. The resolution does not create new laws but seeks to guide future policy discussions on economic diversification.